Index tab



June 17, 1952 c. E. JONES 2,601,026

INDEX TAB Filed May l2, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

M WMM @w75 Patented June 17, 1952 INDEX TAB Charles E. Jones, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Rockwell-Barnes Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 12, 1948, Serial No. 26,573

(Cl. l0-23) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in an index or indicator tab for use with guide separators or similar filing devices.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved indicator tab for the margin of a guide separator, ling card, book leaf or similar filing device which indicator tab is adapted to carry a slip of paper or the like upon which the index card, letter or other reference character is printed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an indexing strip holder which is simple, strong and of lasting character, and which may be quickly and easily positioned on and securely attached to the margin of the guide separator or the like by a single operation.

A more specic object of the invention is to provide an index tab member which is fabricated from a continuous length of molded material, such as aluminum, wherein the tab is provided with a pair of depending leg portions which are adapted to be positioned over the edge of an index guide member or the like and forced into gripping relation therewith to frictionally secure the tab member to the margin of the guide member.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in this art from a consideration of the preferred form of the invention which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an index tab which embodies the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of an f index guide member having the index tab attached to the upper margin thereof;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 2 showing a modied form of index tab.

Heretofore index tabs have been provided of various materials which were adapted to be secured to the margin of the ling member by rivets or by an adhesive. An index tab of this character is disclosed in my Patent No. 2,248,355, July 8, 1941. Generally in attaching such tabs riveting or gluing machines are required and more than a single operation is involved.

The improved index tab I0 which is disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing is so constructed that it may be readily attached to a guide separator member or the like, by a single operation and without the use of any additional securing materials.

The tab I0 is fabricated preferably from a continuous strip of extruded metal, for example, aluminum, or similar material, which is characterized by being relatively rigid and malleable and having very little resiliency so that when bent or deformed it will remain in its deformed condition and not return to its original form to any appreciable degree.

The tab I0 is shaped or formed to provide an upstanding or body portion II having a recessed upper face provided with spaced parallel axially extending slots I2 and I3 which are adapted to receive the indicia bearing strip. The slot I2 is formed on the inner side of a thickened or bead-like portion I4 constituting the upper or outer edge of the tab I0. The thickened portion I4, being of increased cross section, forms a rein forcing and protecting ridge on the edge of the tab. It is preferably rounded to eliminate any sharp or projecting edges,.vvhich might tear or damage papers or the like being filed, or obstruct the filing of the same. The slot I3 is formed in a thickened or bead-like center portion I5 of the tab I0. The upstanding body portion II is larranged to extend preferably at an angle to the plane of the member to which the tab is attached. being inclined upwardly and outwardly therefrom. The center portion l5 is rounded and constitutes a lower edge for the body portion II which does not obstruct the insertion or removal of papers when filing.

The tab I0 is provided with leg portions I6 and I1 which extend generally downwardly from the body portion II in diverging spaced relation. to each other forming a V-shaped recess I8 between their opposed faces I9 and 2|) which terminates at its upper end in an enlarged axial recess 2|. The recess 2I provides a weakened cross sectional area or line at the upper end of legs I6 and I'I about which bending occurs when the legs I6 and I'I are forced toward each other. The opposed faces I9 and 20 of the legs IB and I1 are provided with axially extending spaced corrugations 22 to better grip the surface of the member to which the tab is attached.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the tab I0 is shown attached to a guide separator member 23 and supporting an indicia bearing strip member 24 in the slots I2 and I3. A cover plate 25 of transparent material is also supported in the slots I2 and I3 to protect the indicia bearing member 24.

The filing member 23 is characterized by being somewhat softer material than the material of the tab IU. The tab I0 is mounted on the ling member 23 by positioning the legs I6 and I1 astraddle the edge of the member 23 with the edge of the member 23 extending into the axially extending recess 2| and forcing the legs IB and l1 toward each other to cause the corrugations 22 on the faces I9 and 20 to engage the surfaces of the member 23 and preferably bite into them somewhat. The corrugations 22 are preferably alternately spaced on the opposed faces I9 and 20 so that the filing member 23 is forced into a slightly waved configuration where it is engaged between the legs I6 and l1. This construction insures retention of the tab l in position on the member 23. The one leg il is preferably made somewhat shorter than the other leg so that there is less tendency for the ling member to break along the bottom edges of the legs.

In the modied form shown in Fig. the tab comprises a body portion of generally triangular cross section which is recessed along its upper inclined side or face and provided with spaced parallel axially extending slots 3| and 32 which are adapted to receive the indicia bearing strip. The edges are rounded at 33 and 34 adjacent the slots 3l and 32, respectively, to provide smooth surfaces which will not obstruct or interfere with ling operations. A slot 35 is provided along one side 36 of the body which extends inwardly from the adjoining side 3T of the body. The slot 35 is inverted V-shaped in cross section and opens downwardly relative to the recessed inclined face. The opposed surfaces 38 and 39 of the slot 35 are provided with small axially extending ribs or similar projections 40. The portion between the slot 35 and the side 36 of the tab constitutes a bendable leg member 4|. The tab is secured to the ling member by positioning it astraddle the edge of the same and forcing the leg member 4I toward the body of the tab to bring the projections 40 into biting engagement with the surfaces of the filing member.

Either for-m of the index tab is adapted to be inexpensively fabricated from extruded metal section and to be readily and easily attached to the ling member by a single operation without the `use of any additional fastening materials or elements. It provides a rigid,l durable and attractive holder for the indicia bearing strip and affords adequate protection for the latter. When properly clamped on the margin of the filing member it will remain securely attached to the same. It does not offer any appreciable interference with the filing operation.

While specific materials and details of construction have been referred to in describing the illustrated form of the invention, it will be understood that other materials and other details of construction may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An index tab for attachment to the margin of a filing member, said tab comprising a length of material cut from a continuous strip of molded deformable non-resilient, solid metal having an integral body portion which is generally triangular in cross section, one face of said body portion being provided with a relatively shallow recess for holding an indicia bearing strip and said body portion having an inverted V-shaped recess extending inwardly from another face thereof and generally parallel to the third face of said body portion whereby said tab may be secured to the filing member by positioning the margin of the filing member in the inverted V-shaped recess and moving the body portions of said tab on opposite sides of said recess towards each other into frictional clamping relation with the filing member.

2. An index tab for permanent attachment along the edge of a relatively thin ling member, which tab comprises a length of material cut from a continuous strip of molded deformable, nonresilient, solid metal having a body portion of generally triangular cross-section, said body portion being provided along one face with means for receiving an indicia bearing strip and being provided along another face with an axially extending recess of inverted generally V-shaped crosssection, said recess extending inwardly of said face in the direction of the line of intersection of the adjacent edges of the other two faces whereby said tab may be secured to the filing member by positioning the marginal edge portion thereof in the inverted V-shaped recess and moving the portions of the tab on opposite sides of the recess toward each other into frictional clamping engagement with the filing member.

CHARLES E. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,066,832 McCallum July 8, 1913 1,329,569 Yaxley Feb. 3, 1920 1,389,266 Newton Aug, 30, 1921 1,398,288 Watkins Nov. 29, 1921 1,723,011 Busco Aug. 6, 1929 2,206,522 Varon July 2, 1940 2,248,355 Jones July 8, 1941 2,267,585 Churchill Dec. 23, 1941 2,547,239 Walker Apr. 3, 1951 

